Middletown man accused of damaging ex-girlfriend's iPhone - twice

MIDDLETOWN >> A city man is facing criminal mischief charges after allegedly smashing his ex-girlfriend's iPhone against a grocery cart.

Brian Mathis, 19, 13 Maplewood Terrace, was also charged with breach of peace and interfering with an officer for the incident Wednesday evening, police said.

The victim came to the police station to file a complaint against Mathis and she told police he refused to give her back the phone, then smashed it against a shopping carriage. The phone's value is estimated at $500, police said.

When the victim asked store employees to call the police, Mathis allegedly ran from the store. The victim got into her mom's car and started to drive away, then saw Mathis again, she told police. Upon seeing the victim, Mathis again smashed the phone on the ground, police said.

After police caught up with Mathis on Court Street, he told police he dropped the phone and never intentionally tried to break it. But first, he resisted arrest, tried to get away and told an officer "I will break your jaw. Take these handcuffs off of me and I will break your jaw, old man," according to police.